Srinagar, Feb 24: The J&K Milk Producers Cooperative Ltd (JKMPCL) Wednesday distributed Rs 8.5 lakh bonus among 58 cooperative societies affiliated with it.
 Speaking to Greater Kashmir, chief executive officer JKMPCL, Peerzada Mehraj said this year they were distributing cash cheques of Rs 25.5 lakh and share capital certificates valuing Rs 14 lakh in J&K.
 In Kashmir, he said, they were distributing Rs 12.47 lakh as cash certificates and Rs 8 lakh in the form of share capital certificates to 158 cooperative societies in two functions.
  “Today we are covering the cooperative societies of Badgam, Ganderbal and Varmul. The other function shall be held on Thursday in Bijbihara Islamabad that will cover beneficiaries of Islamabad, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama districts,” said Mehraj, adding that in Jammu they had already conducted the bonus prize function on January 14.
 Mehraj said the JKMPCL was having 350 cooperative societies affiliated with it in the state with overall 4,500 member producers.
 He said the JKMPCL was organizing the bonus prize functions for the past three years. “The milk producers get this amount in addition to what they earn during the year. So this is actually the bonus amount,” he added.
 Addressing milk producers, Mehraj said in 2005 the JKMPCL had done a business of Rs 4.75 crore that increased to Rs 11 crore previous year. “This year it is over Rs 14 crore, though we had anticipated an increase of Rs 2.5 crore only,” he said.
 Dr Muhammad Deen, chairman board of directors, JKMPCL, who distributed bonus cheques, said previous year out of the profit of Rs 50 lakh, the JKMPCL had invested Rs 10 lakh in procuring machinery and on other activities, where as Rs 40 lakh were distributed as bonus prizes among cooperative societies. “I believe this is our biggest achievement,” he said.
 Chief animal husbandry officer Badgam, Dr Khursheed Ahmad Zargar, talked about some schemes available with the department.
 Some milk producers put forward their demands and concerns on the occasion. Nissar Ahmad Bhat, a milk producer from Badgam, said there was a dire need to have better marketing for the brand of JKMPCL, namely Snow Cap. He also demanded reduction in processing charges. Another milk producer, Abdul Majeed Dar said the milk producers in Varmul were facing acute shortage of funds and demanded increase in milk prices by the JKMPCL.
 The CEO JKMPCL assured milk producers that all their issues shall be addressed in 10 to 15 days.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST